Grover Gene O'Dear

Grover Gene O’Dear, 82, of Marion passed away at the CarePartners Solace Center of Asheville on Thursday, April 25, 2024. 

Gene was born in McDowell County on March 08, 1942 to the late Rev. Harold O’Dear and the late Reva Franklin.  

Gene loved fishing and hunting where he really enjoyed spending time in the beautiful outdoors. He was known as an outstanding baseball player who had the privilege and the ability to play semi-pro baseball for over ten years. He was also a businessman who ran the Little Super and Riverside Convenience Stores. Gene will be greatly missed by his loving family.

Preceding him in death, including his parents are his wife, Lois McKinney O’Dear; daughter, Jackie Lynn Simmons; brother, Bobby O’Dear and sisters, Janice Dockery and Yvonne Gallimore

Gene is survived by a son, Robbie O’Dear (Tammy); a brother Guy Burleson; sister, Brenda Davis; three grandchildren, Jeffery O’Dear (Janet), Justin O’Dear and Chris Simmons (Autumn) and three great grandchildren, Taylor Grace O’Dear, Lennie Simmons and Lorelei Simmons. 

A funeral service will be held at the Beam Celebration Center on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 5:00 pm. Receiving of friends will take place one hour prior to the funeral from 4:00 until 5:00. Burial will take place at McDowell Memorial Park on Monday, April 29, 2024 at 2:00 pm.